Automobile table



Feb? 14, 1933. B. P. BAUS AUTOMOBILE TABLE Filed NOV. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 215,225

ATTORNEY Feb. 14, 1933. B. P. BAUS 1,897,107

AUTOMOBILE TABLE Filed Nov. 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I W ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT F'FFCE BERNARD I. BAUS, F \VACO, TEXAS AUTOIVIOBILE TABLE This invention relates to automobile tables and aims, among other objects, to provide an improved table of this type which may readily be adjusted as to length and height and which may be folded when not in use.

In the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved table shown supported on the doors of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same but showing one of the doors partially open;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the table in folded position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4t of Fig. 3 and shown on alarger scale;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the table in open position and shown on the same scale as Fig. -l; a

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section 0 one end of the table in open position; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fi 6 but showing the table in folded position.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the improved table is there shown constructed and arranged to be supported on the window ledges of automobile doors or windows and is especially adapted for use in connection with sandwich shops having curb service. Various tables have been heretofore proposed for open car use but such tables could readily not be used with closed cars, especially in in clement weather when the car windows are closed. In the present car, the table may be placed in position in a closed car by an attendant while the door is open and the door may then be closed with the table supported thereon. The invention also has other advantages as will appear later.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the improved table is there shown as comprising a rectangular tray portion 10 conveniently made of wood and having a marginal rim 11 to prevent dishes and tumblers from slipping off the edge. A relatively wide and shallow channel 12 (Fig. 4) is formed longitudinally of the tray in the bottom thereof and guard members 13 are secured to the bottom and overhang the channel to form a trackway for extension members 1d slidably mounted in the channel. The inner ends of the extension or slide members 1e abut when the table is folded, as shown in Fig. 3, and their combined length is less than the length of the tray so that portions of supporting members to be described may be located in the channel 12 at its ends when the table is folded. The outer end of the slides 14 are bifurcated to receive the hubs 15 of supporting members 16 which are journalled on transverse pivot pins 17. Hanger members 18 are connected to the outer ends of the supporting members and are adapted to engage the window ledges or the side edges of a car to support the tray in horizontal position (see Figs. 5 and 6).

The supporting members 16 are adjustable in length so that the table may be accommodated to the car, and are each shown as comprising a non-circular post 19 telescoped within a non-circular tube 20 which is rigidly secured at its lower end to an extension 21 on the hub member 15. See Figs. 6 and 7. The post 19 is adjustably secured to the tube 20 by means of a button or projection 22 on the free end of a flat spring 23 projecting through one of a plurality of apertures 24 in one wall of the tube. The other end of spring 23 is removably secured in a slot 23 in the post near its lower end. To provide room for the spring to be depressed to disengage the button from an aperture, the post is recessed, as shown at 25. To facilitate adjustment of the post, an expansile coiled spring 26 is interposed between the lower end of the post and the extension 21, so that when the button 22 is depressed, the spring 26 expands and moves the post outwardly so that it may then be grasped with i the same hand and moved to the next position. Otherwise, two hands would he needed to adjust each post, one to push the button and the other to move the post.

The hangers 18 are shown as being substantially U-shaped, each comprising spaced arms 27, connected at their rear ends by a cross bar 28 which normally extends parallel to the pivot pin 17. The arms 27, which are adapted to rest on the window ledge, have depending tongues 27 formed on the front ends adapted to extend downwardly into the space The outer end of each post "19has a circular portion 29 and" the intermediate portion 0 each crossbar is enlarged to form afhub 30 havinga bore to receive the circular portion 29. .The hangers are each-held innormai po sition relative tothe posts bymeansof a pin 31 extending transversely through the circular portion 29 v and engaging a 5 notch 32 formed at-the apex of cam surfaces-33 M the lower end'of the hub 30.- lhe notch is held in engagement with the pin byanexp'a'nsile coiled spring 34=surroundmg a reducedpor- -y s v p'os-1t1on,-the door at either side may be opened tion' 35 on, the post and extending between hQ hub BQ and 1 a nutf36 on? thegportion 35. B'y this arrangement the "hangers may. be

partially rotateclon thejposts, but the springs forcingthecamfisurfaces against the pins,

will restore them tonormalposition. V

' To holdnthe supports- 20 at substantially right, angles to the slides when in open position so that they will in} effect "be rigid on the extensions lyeach hub. member 15 is provided with a depending tail piece or extension :37,- adapted 1 tobe engaged at its lowerbeveled end by a flat spring 38 having a-be'nt outier, end providing a shoulder 39 which limitsthe swinging movement of the support to 90; .The inner. end of the spring is rigidly securedtothe 'bottom of the slide and a lug LO- on the spring near the shoulder39lengages the rear of thetail piece endsof the springslare depressech'and the tail pieces 37, are swung inwardly and rip-,-

. 37. to. prevent the support fromnfolding aceidentally. i z

When the tableiis to be vfolded, the outer to accommodate the tailpieces and wings 42 formedon' the tail piecesengage in recesses A3 [on opposite sides ofthe slot 41 to hold thelposts in substantially "hOIlZOHtEIl alinementwith the slides when theyare folded. When: the posts have been folded, the slides and posts may be pushed beneath the tray until proj ections 44, formed on the; cross bars '28 engage the ends of the tray. Flat springs viisecured to the bottom of the tray at the end frictionall-y engage the pro1ections 44 whenthe table is folded'to prevent outward movement of the slides until isis desired to unfold thetable. l .7 s

{In order that the slides may bemoved freely, their inner ends are provided with rollers 46 which engage the bottom ofthe channel. and the, guardi nembersor tracks 13. other rollers At? carried by'the ends of 48 at therear ends of the slides prevent them from being pulledout of the channelby strikingf against 1 stop shoulders $9 on ;the tracks When thetableis to-'be-.open'ed, .the cross bars 28 are grasped andz pulled outwardly until the hubs 15 are clear of the ends of thetray}; The posts may then be swung upward ly until the shoulders 39 engage the endsof door and thehanger on the opposite end of theltable may be engaged with the window ledge ofthe adjacent closed door. The slide on the near end of the tableis' then pulled out-Vandthe hanger rotated on the post un tilit isparallel with the open door andit may, then'be engaged with the window ledge and the door closed. After the table, is in andfarticles placed onthe table withoutin- I terfering with its connections to the doors,

or'eithen doormay be leftpartlyajar for ventilatioiuand still the table may be used \Vhether the; sides for ;the car are str'aighu, curved or tapered,v the hangersac'an beadjusted on them to'support the table properly Also, the slidable extensions permit thetable to fit cars of various widths andatthesame,

time be stably supported. When fnotin use 27 serve as short legs to support thejtable.

the table may be readily folded and the arms.

A; number ofsuchjtablesmay be stackedby q placing I tions at of the table below. i I

1 Obviously, the present'finvention:is'notrea stricted to. theparticula-r embodiment thereherein [shown and. described; .Mbre'over, it is not indispensablethat all the features of the invention be usedv conjointly, since they may he employed advantageously invarious combinationsand sub-combinations.

1. An adjustable [automobile tablekcornprising," in combination, a tray, egte'nsion me'mbers slidab'ly mounted in'the beams-tr the tr 'y supporting iinembers pivotally con-1 the legs 27 of one tableon the projec= nected to the ends of the entensionmembers r hangers connectedtothe supports andhaving means to engage thelwindowvledgesioflan' automobile andjme'ans releasably to hold the supporting angles-to the extension members;

QQ-An ad'ustabl 1 tablev for comprising, in combination, a tray havingja channel' inthe-bottom thereof to provide a :members substantially: at right track'Way ,extension' members slidably mount- 1 ed' inthetrack-way supporting members'pi v otally connected to theends of the extension members and extending substantially verti callygw'henthe table is open; means'to'adjust V thelength} oi thesupporting membersghanger members,journaledjon the; upper,ends' 'o f the supporting members and having 5 means o e ge; t anew ledges 1 f l mobileg a tailpieceforjfned on each of the supporting be 'ex ei siens mb s n .ele 'a iea i fitli ndin he fthe pivots thereof and spring means J secured; to'

gaged with said tail pieces to hold the supporting members in vertical position.

3. An adjustable table for automobiles comprising, in combination, a tray; extension members slidably mounted on the bottom of the tray; hub members pivotally mounted at the ends of the extension members; upper and lower extensions formed on the hub members; non-circular tubes secured on the upper extensions non-circular posts slidably mounted in the tubes; means releasably securing the post to the tubes; hanger members connected to the upper ends of the posts and having means to engage the window ledge of an automobile; and releasable means on the slidable extensions and engageable with the lower extensions on the hubs to hold the post in upright position.

l. An adjustable table for automobiles comprising, in combination, a tray; extension members slidably mounted on the bottom of the tray; hub members pivotally mounted at the ends of the extension members; upper and lower extensions formed on the hub members; non-circular tubes secured on the upper extensions; non-circular posts slidably mounted in the tubes; said tubes each having a plurality of apertures in one wall; a leaf spring secured at one end to each post; a projection on the other end of the spring engageable with one of the apertures and releasable to lock the posts to the tube; hanger members connected to the upper ends of the posts and having means to engage the window ledges of an automobile; and releasable means on the slidable extensions and engageable with the lower extensions on the hubs to hold the post in upright position.

5. An adjustable automobile table comprising, in combination, a tray; extension members slidably mounted in the bottom of the tray; supporting members pivotally connected to the ends of the extension members; releasable means to hold the supporting members substantially upright when the table is open hanger members j ournaled on the upper ends of the supporting members and having lateral arms adapted to engage the window ledge of an automobile; and depending tongues formed on the outer ends of the arms to extend downwardly into the spaces between the window glass and the ledge.

6. An adjustable table for automobiles comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extensible tray; upright supporting members connected to each end of and extending above the tray; vertically extending trunnions on the upper ends of the supporting members; and hanger members having means to engage the window ledges of an automobile door; said hanger members being journaled on the trunnions and lying wholly above the supporting tray for freedom of movement, whereby the hanger members may be adjusted angularly to lit ledges of various angularities.

7. An adjustable table for automobiles comprising, in combination, a tray body; a pair of slide members of a width considerably less than the width of the tray and carried on the underside of the tray; a pair of upright supporting members each connected to the outer end of one of the slide members and extending above the tray; vertically extending trunnions on the upper ends of the supporting members; and hanger members having means to engage the window ledges of an automobile door; said hanger members being journaled on the trunnions and lying wholly above the supporting tray for freedom of movement, whereby the hanger members may be adjusted angularly to fit ledges of various angularities.

8. An adjustable table for automobiles comprising, in combination, an elongated tray; extension members slidably mounted beneath the tray; supporting members pivotally connected to the ends of the extension members and adapted to extend upwardly above the tray when the tray is in open position; hanger means connected to the supporting members and adapted to engage the window ledges of an automobile; said supporting members each having a tail piece extending below the tray, when the table is open; spring means on the extensions engageable with the ing members in upright position when the table is open, said spring means being releasable to permit the supporting members to swing outwardly and downwardly; said tail pieces being engageable with the undersides of the extension to hold said supporting members in substantially horizontal alinement with the extensions when the table is folded whereby said members and extensions may be pushed beneath the tray.

9. An adjustable table for automobiles comprising, in combination, an elongated tray; extension members slidably mounted beneath the tray; supporting members pivotally connected to the ends of the extension members and adapted to extend upwardly above the tray when the tray is in open position; hanger means connected to the supporting members and adapted to engage the window ledges of an automobile; said supp0rting members each having a tail piece extending below the tray, when the table is open; spring means on the extensions and engageable with the tail pieces to hold the supporting members in upright position when the table is open, said spring means being releasable to permit the supporting members to swing outwardly and downwardly, said tail pieces being engageable with the undersides of the extension to hold said members in substantial horizontal alinement with the extensions when the table is folded whereby said members and extensions may be pushed beneath the tray; and spring means on the ends tail pieces to hold the support- 7 bers to prevent accidentaldnfoldingof the otable. 7

t 10. .An adjustable for eutothobiles comprising, in combination, an elongated tray; upright supporting members connected to each end and extending above the tray;

' vertically extending trunnions onthe upper ends of the supporting members; and hanger 'nion; said hub oamsu-rfaces at its lower end oo-operatlng meansessociat'ed with eachtof the support .ing members said meanseach compris ng a U-shapedmember hav ng spac'e'dlateral arms and aconnectlng" crossbar; sald crossbar having a hub portion journaled on the trunniohs ofoneof the supporting. members; 'a

pin extendlng, lateral althronghhthe tr m having upwardly converged Wih-szud pin tonorma-lly'hold the oross'bars .e e ofone hanger 'substantiallyparallel to :the' cross bar of thefother-hanger; fandrspring V 'mean's'to hold the "cam surfaces engaged with the pins.

1 In testimonythat I the as my .o-wn,,I havehereto afiixed mysigna- "ture.

" "B. PQB USQ i ii 

